Tonsil suction dissector



Feb.17, 1970 Y IMQBfslswDlaR i y 3,495,593

v ToNSIL suc'iln DIssEcTon Filed May 2, 1966 v FIGURE F/GURE 3 2o l FIGURE 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,495,593 TONSIL SUCTION DISSECTO Merle B. Snyder, 508 W. Clay, Chewelah, Wash. v99109 Filed May 2, 1966, Ser. No. 546,636 Int. Cl. A61b l 72; A61m 1/00 U.S. Cl. 128-309 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A surgical tool, to aid in removal of tonsil tissue, providing a spoon-like dissector supported at one end of a substantially straight elongate handle providing an aspirator channel from the handle end to the convex portion of the dissector. The spoon is symmetrical, for ambidextrous use on variously curving surfaces and the aspirator orifice is particularly configured to provide improved aspiration.

This invention relates generally to a surgical tool and more particularly to a tonsil dissector that has suction means adapted to extract iiuids from the operative area.

In performing a tonsilectomy, the common surgical procedure, when possible, is to tear the tonsil capsule from its supporting underlying muscular tissue by means of a relatively blunt spoon-shaped dissector. In this process it is desirable, and oftentimes necessary, to evacuate blood and various other body and tissue fluids coming to the area during the procedure. Heretofore both a suction tube and a dissector have been used to accomplish this result. With limited space, the presence of two instruments presents difficulties, complicates the procedure and oftentimes makes manipulation of instruments quite clumsy.

With these thoughts and this background in mind, the instant invention seeks to provide a single tool to accomplish the aforesaid functions. In so doing it is:

A principal object of my invention to provide a vsurgical instrument, for use particularly in tonsil surgery, that combines a relatively blunt, spoon-shaped dissecting tool with a suction means,

A further object of my invention to provide such a tool that is of a design well adapted to manual manipulation and amenable to the customary manipulations of tools that have heretofore been used for the same purpose.

A further object of my invention to provide such a tool that may be used in conjunction with ordinary suction or aspirator apparatus presently used in surgical procedures.

Another object of my invention to provide such a tool that extracts fluids from the surgical site and does not readily become clogged or fouled -by various bits of tissue and debris.

A still further object of my invention to provide a tool of the nature aforesaid of new and novel design, of `simple and economic construction, of rugged and durable nature, and that is otherwise Well adapted to the uses for which it is intended.

In the accompanying drawings wherein. like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

FIGURE l is an orthographic top View of my invention showing its details, construction and configuration from this aspect.

FIGURE 2 is an Orthographie bottom view of the invention of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the invention of FIGURE 1, taken on the line 3-3 in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention of FIGURE 2 taken on the line 4-4 in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.

Patented Feb. 17, 1970 FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the invention of FIGURE 2, taken on the line 5 5, in the direction iindcated by the arrows thereon.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the invention of FIGURE 2 taken on the line 6 6, in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail and particularly to that of FIGURE 1, it will there be seen that my invention comprises essentially spoon-like dissecting end 10 communicating by relatively small shank 11 with central enlarged handle member 12, carrying at its rearward part vacuum connector 13.

The dissector end is a spoon-like member having inner concave surface 14 and outer convex surface 15 meeting in an arcuate rim 16. This rim, though relatively acute, is preferably not sharp enough to have a cutting action on tissue but rather allows the tissue to be grasped, held, and torn in a normal dissecting fashion. The outer peripheral shape of this member is preferably similar to that of tonsil dissectors presently commonly used in the art so that operators of my invention will be habituallyI familiar with its use.

On the convex outer side 15 of the dissector are two lateral relatively narrow elongate slots 17 and a central, slightly longer slot 18 terminating in its forward part in a somewhat enlarged bulbular orifice 19. These slots communicate with, and provide access of fluids and small -bits of matter to central vacuum channel 20 defined within the internal body of my structure to provide a passage from orifices 17 and 18, lengthwise through the dissector to hole 21 in vacuum connector 13. This channel provides a channel for both fluid and vacuum. These slots serve as a filter for larger pieces of matter and their configuration and arrangement presents the suction communicating therethrough from interfering with normal dissection.

Shank 11 serves as a connector between dissector 10 and handle 12 and provides means for forming the walls of vacuum channel 20 therethrough.

Handle 12 is slightly enlarged in its medial part to provide an external configuration adapted for manual manipulation. Preferably it is of somewhat eliptical crosssection, as shown especially in the view of FIGURE 5, and has external elongate ridges 22 to aid in manipulation. Again, preferably, this member should be of similar size and design of handles of tonsil dissectors presently used.

Vacuum connector 13 provides a bulbular enlargement 23 at the rearwardmost portion of the tool, preferably with arcuate protuberances 24 on its peripheral surfaces and linear protuberances 25 on neck 26 to provide nonslipping communication with a normal elastic suction tube of surgical commerce (not shown).

For simplicity of manufacture, and maintenance of appropriate sterility, I prefer that the entire structure be formed from surgical steel; obviously other structurally rigid materials could be used without departing from the essence of my invention. The preferred configuration and dimensioning is shown very nearly at scale in the drawings.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention, its operation is relatively obvious:

The tool is connected to an ordinary aspirator or vacuum pump (not shown), as commonly used in surgical practice, by means of an elastic tube releasahly and functionally communicating with bulbular enlargement 23 of vacuum connector 13 and the tool is then ready for use. In use, it is inserted through the oral cavity into the area of either the palatine or pharyngeal tonsil and dissection instituted by the separation or scraping process as with the normal spoon-type dissector. As blood or other body and tissue uids collect in or about the area, they are evacuated through orifices 17, 18 and thence through vacuum channel 20 into a collector of the aspirator system.

The outer convex portion 15 of the instrument may be introduced at positions where such fluids are prevalent or accumulate, if necessary. In this regard, however, it should be noted that normally such fluids will be introduced from the body tissues adjacent the dissected portion of the tonsil and by reason of the positioning of orices 17, 18, they will, in the normal course of dissecting, be immediately in and about this area, so that they automatically tend to remove such fluids.

Vacuum, of course, will be present at all times but will have no effect upon the normal removal of the tonsil capsule, or portions, by usual methods.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character so that a specific embodiment of my invention may be set forth as required, it is to be understood that various modifications of parts, multiplication thereof and changes in design and ordering may be resorted to, without departing from its spirit, essence, or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and what I claim is:

1. A surgical instrument of the nature aforesaid comprising in combination:

an elongate body having means of aiding manual manipulation thereof;

a bulbular enlargement at one end of the body adapted to aid in communication with an aspirator system;

a relatively small shank at the second end of the body communicating with a spoon-like dissector end having substantially the entire inner surface concave and substantially the entire outer surface convex so as to communicate in an arcuate rim; and

a vacuum channel dened within the instrument, cornmunicating from a plurality of orices in the convex outer surface of the spoon-like dissector end through the small shank and body to the bulbular enlargement to communicate with an aspirator system.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said orifices in the convex outer surface of said dissector comprise two elongate lateral slots with a central slightly longer slot, terminating at one end in an enlarged bulbular orice, therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,555,493 6/1951 Kirschbaum 12S-303 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 888,836 2/1962 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner JOHN D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 128-297 

